June 2019
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
villagers were subsequently disowned by their village heads, their names erased from village
books and banished from the village when they refused to hand over their money.
In Mudzi South traditional leaders are forcing villagers to contribute to their upkeep while
those who refuse are labelled opposition supporters. Fonias Chingwena from Tizora village
Ward 2 is reportedly intimidating villagers into submitting money and food stuffs meant to
assist Chief Goronga.
Threats of civil unrest are looming ever largely in the country. On the 12th of June MDC
Youth Assembly through its President Obey Sithole issued a stern threat that their party has
resolved to take a confrontational approach in protesting the worsening economic situation in
the country. These sentiments echo those of the party’s president; Nelson Chamisa who had
expressed that they will be rolling out mass protests against the government. The statement
was then followed by that of the Zanu PF Youth League who said that they would crush any
petitioning and demonstrations against government.
These statements of the youths are creating a fertile ground for possible confrontation. This is
already apparent in a number of violation reports showing that ruling party leaders are
blatantly threatening people whom they perceive are protesting against government. On 23
June during a Zanu PF feedback meeting at St Hughes Business Centre in Gokwe Kana Ward
1, District Secretary Nobert Simutwe indicated the party’s top leadership had given a green
light to crush opposition supporters sabotaging government efforts.
Abductions and Intimidation violations are on the increase. It is sad to note that the
Mnangagwa administration has resorted to the same tricks of ruling through harvesting of
fear the same way former President Robert Mugabe’s government did to ensure consent and
stamp dissent from its citizens. ARTUZ representatives in Harare (Obert Masaraure), Gweru
(Godfrey Chanda) and Masvingo (Lawrence Mapengo) have been victimised by state security
agents for advocating for a strike protesting poor salaries for teachers. The union
representatives are accused of being a destabilising force against the government.
This victimisation has degenerated to such a state that Chanda is being hounded out of his job
by the community together with headmaster Wapwanyika Blazio Mawire of Chiweshe
Primary School where he teaches. Chanda received a signed and stamped letter addressed to
the Provincial Education Director on the 14th of June appealing for the removal of the teacher
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